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Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Complete Jewish Bible

2 Samuel 19:37

Your servant only wants to cross the Yarden with the king; why should the king reward this so generously?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Barzillai;   Chimham;   Contentment;   David;   Old Age;   Thompson Chain Reference - Home;   Love;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Burial;   Contentment;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Friend, Friendship;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prophet;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Chimham;   Grave;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Barzillai;   Bethlehem;   Chimham;   David;   Gad (1);   Inn;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Chimham;   Ironsmith;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Geruth-Chimham;   Samuel, Books of;   Solomon;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Joram;   Tomb, Grave, Sepulchre;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Barzillai ;   Chimham ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Barzillai;   Chimham;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Barzil'la-I;   Chim'ham;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Barzillai;   Chimham;   Relationships, Family;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Barzillai;   Friendship;   Inn;   Yudan;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Please let your servant return so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham: let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him what seems good to you.”
Hebrew Names Version
Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Kemoham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.
King James Version
Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
Lexham English Bible
Please let your servant return, and let me die in my city in the tomb of my father and my mother. Here is your servant Kimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him that which is good in your eyes."
English Standard Version
Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him go over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever seems good to you."
New Century Version
Then let me go back so I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is Kimham, your servant. Let him go with you, my master and king. Do with him whatever you want."
New English Translation
Let me return so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems appropriate to you."
Amplified Bible
"Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own city [and be buried] by the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham [my son]; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you."
New American Standard Bible
"Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight."
Geneva Bible (1587)
I pray thee, let thy seruant turne backe againe, that I may die in mine owne citie, and be buryed in the graue of my father and of my mother: but beholde thy seruant Chimham, let him goe with my lorde the king, and doe to him what shall please thee.
Legacy Standard Bible
Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant Chimham, let him pass over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight."
Contemporary English Version
Just let me return to my hometown, where I can someday be buried near my father and mother. My servant Chimham can go with you, and you can treat him as your own.
Darby Translation
Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham: let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what seems good to thee.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then please let me go back so that I can die in my own town and be buried in the grave of my father and mother. But here is Kimham; take him back with you as a servant, my lord and king. Do whatever you want with him."
George Lamsa Translation
Let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city and be buried beside the grave of my father and my mother. But behold here is with you your servant Bimham my son; let him go over with my lord the king, and do you to him what seems good in your sight.
Good News Translation
Then let me go back home and die near my parents' grave. Here is my son Chimham, who will serve you; take him with you, Your Majesty, and do for him as you think best."
Literal Translation
Please let your servant return, and I shall die in my own city, near the burying place of my father and my mother. And, behold your servant Chimham! Let him cross over with my lord the king, and you do to him the good in your eyes.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Let thy seruaunt turne backe agayne, that I maye dye in my cite besyde my father and my mothers graue. Beholde, there is thy seruaunt Chimeam, let him go ouer with my lorde the kynge, and do vnto him what pleaseth the.
American Standard Version
Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
Bible in Basic English
Let your servant now go back again, so that when death comes to me, it may be in my town and by the resting-place of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham: let him go with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
O let thy seruaunt turne backe agayne, that I may dye in myne owne citie, and [be buryed] in the graue of my father & of my mother: Beholde, here is thy seruaunt Chimham, let him go with my lorde the king, and do to him what shall please thee.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Thy servant would but just go over the Jordan with the king; and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
King James Version (1611)
Let thy seruant, I pray thee, turne backe againe, that I may die in mine owne citie, and be buried by the graue of my father, and of my mother: but behold thy seruant Chimham, let him go ouer with my lord the king, and doe to him what shall seeme good vnto thee.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Let, I pray thee, thy servant remain, and I will die in my city, by the tomb of my father and of my mother. And, behold, thy servant Chamaam shall go over with my lord the king; and do thou to him as it seems good in thine eyes.
English Revised Version
Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
Berean Standard Bible
Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but Y biseche, that Y thi seruaunt turne ayen, and die in my citee, and be biried bisidis the sepulcre of my fadir and of my modir; forsothe Chamaam is thi seruaunt, my lord the kyng, go he with thee, and do thou to hym that that semeth good to thee.
Young's Literal Translation
Let, I pray thee, thy servant turn back again, and I die in mine own city, near the burying-place of my father and of my mother, -- and lo, thy servant Chimham, let him pass over with my lord the king, and do thou to him that which [is] good in thine eyes.'
Update Bible Version
Let your slave, I pray you, turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But look, your slave Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.
Webster's Bible Translation
Let thy servant, I pray thee, return again, that I may die in my own city, [and be buried] by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to thee.
World English Bible
Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.
New King James Version
Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you."
New Living Translation
Then let me return again to die in my own town, where my father and mother are buried. But here is your servant, my son Kimham. Let him go with my lord the king and receive whatever you want to give him."
New Life Bible
Let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. And do for him what is good in your eyes."
New Revised Standard
Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own town, near the graves of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do for him whatever seems good to you."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father, and my mother. But here is thy servant Chimham - let him pass over with my lord the king, and do unto him that which may be good in thine eyes.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But I beseech thee let thy servant return, and die in my own city, and be buried by the sepulchre of my father, and of my mother. But there is thy servant Chamaam, let him go with thee, my lord, the king, and do to him whatsoever seemeth good to thee.
Revised Standard Version
Pray let your servant return, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do for him whatever seems good to you."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant Chimham, let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight."

Contextual Overview

31 M'fivoshet said to the king, "Indeed, let him take it all; for me it's enough that my lord the king has come home in peace." 32 Barzillai the Gil‘adi had come down from Roglim and passed on to the Yarden with the king to bring him across the Yarden. 33 Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old; he had provided for the king's needs when he was staying at Machanayim; for he was a wealthy man. 34 The king said to Barzillai, "Come on across with me, and I will provide for your needs with me in Yerushalayim." 35 Barzillai said to the king, "How much longer can I live, that I should go up with the king to Yerushalayim? 36 I am now eighty years old. Can I tell good from bad? Can your servant even taste what he eats or drinks? Can I hear the voice of men and women singing any more? Why should your servant burden my lord the king? 37 Your servant only wants to cross the Yarden with the king; why should the king reward this so generously? 38 Please, just let your servant go back and die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Khimham; let him cross with my lord the king; and do for him whatever seems good to you." 39 The king answered, "Khimham will cross with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you. Whatever you ask of me, I will do for you."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Let thy: The whole of this little episode is extremely interesting, and contains an affecting description of the infirmities of old age. The venerable and kind Barzillai was fourscore years old; his ear was become dull of hearing, and his relish for even royal dainties was gone: the evil days had arrived in which he was constrained to say, "I have no pleasure in them" - Ecclesiastes 12:1. As he was too old either to enjoy the pleasures of a court, or to be of any further service to the king, he finishes his affecting address to the aged monarch with the request, that he would suffer him to enjoy what old men naturally desire, to "die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and mother;" at the same time commending his son Chimham to his kind offices.

I may die: Genesis 48:21, Joshua 23:14, Luke 2:29, Luke 2:30, 2 Timothy 4:6, 2 Peter 1:14

by the grave: Genesis 47:30, Genesis 49:29-31, Genesis 50:13, 1 Kings 13:22

Chimham: 2 Samuel 19:40, 1 Kings 2:7, Jeremiah 41:17

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 4:5 - the king's Philemon 1:10 - my son

Cross-References

Genesis 19:1
(iii) The two angels came to S'dom that evening, when Lot was sitting at the gate of S'dom. Lot saw them, got up to greet them and prostrated himself on the ground.
Genesis 19:18
Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lord!
Genesis 19:25
He overthrew those cities, the entire plain, all the inhabitants of the cities and everything growing in the ground.
Genesis 19:27
Avraham got up early in the morning, went to the place where he had stood before Adonai ,
Genesis 19:31
The firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there isn't a man on earth to come in to us in the manner customary in the world.
Numbers 21:29
"Woe to you, Mo'av! You are destroyed, people of K'mosh! He let his sons be fugitives and his daughters captives of Sichon, king of the Emori.
Deuteronomy 2:9
Adonai said to me, ‘Don't be hostile toward Mo'av or fight with them, because I will not give you any of their land to possess, since I have already given ‘Ar to the descendants of Lot as their territory.'"
Deuteronomy 2:19
When you approach the descendants of ‘Amon, don't bother them or fight with them, for I will not give you any of the territory of the people of ‘Amon to possess, since I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their territory.'"
Deuteronomy 23:3
"A mamzer may not enter the assembly of Adonai , nor may his descendants down to the tenth generation enter the assembly of Adonai .
Ruth 4:10
Also I am acquiring as my wife Rut the woman from Mo'av, the wife of Machlon, in order to raise up in the name of the deceased an heir for his property; so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his kinsmen and from the gate of his place. You are witnesses today."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again,.... To his own city, after he is gone ever Jordan, and seen the king a little way on his journey:

that I may die in my own city: the city of Rogelim, where perhaps he was born, and had lived all his days, and where it is natural for people to desire to die, even in their native place:

[and be buried] by the grave of my father, and of my mother: or "in" their grave, as Kimchi and Ben Melech, in the sepulchre of his fathers, where men usually choose to be buried:

but behold, thy servant Chimham: who was his son; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions express it, my son Chimham:

let him go over with my lord the king; not only over Jordan, but to Jerusalem with him:

and do to him what shall seem good unto thee; advance him, and put him into any post or office the king should think fit, or bestow a pension upon him, or give him an estate to live upon, or whatever he pleased.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Chimham - From marginal references it appears that Chimham, having accepted David’s offer, came and settled near Bethlehem. His house was still called after him at the time of the captivity.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 19:37. Thy servant Chimham — It is generally understood that this was Barzillai's son; and this is probable from 1 Kings 2:7, where, when David was dying, he said, Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai: and it is very probable that this Chimham was one of them. In Jeremiah 41:17 mention is made of the habitation of Chimham, which was near to Bethlehem; and it is reasonably conjectured that David had left that portion, which was probably a part of his paternal estate, to this son of Barzillai.


 
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